## United States Court of App eals

F O R T H E E I G H T H C I R C U I T

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No. 1 1- 16 99

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LaVera Gra ne th a Ash an ti , in di vi du al ly *

an d o n b eh al f of

all ot he rs si m il arl y * si tu at ed
, *

* App el la nt , * App eal fro m th e Uni te d S ta te s
* Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r th e

v. * Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta

. * Ci ty of Gol de n Val le y , as re pr es en ta ti ve * de fen da nt for all ot he r m

un ic ip al * de fen da nt s s im il arl y

si tu at ed
, *

* App el le e. *

__ __ __ __ __ _
Su bm it te d: Nov em

be r 15 , 20 11 Fi le d: Ja nu ary 27 , 20 12

__ __ __ __ __ _ Befo re WOL LMAN, MURPHY, an d B ENTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ _
W OLLMAN, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

LaVera Gran et h a Ash an ti ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary 1 jud gm en t to th e Ci ty of Gol de n Vall ey (Go ld en Vall ey ) on he r fed eral an d Mi nn es ot a

The Hon or ab le Pat ric k J. Sch il tz , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct 1 of Mi nn es ot a.co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s ari si ng fro m a cri m in al fo rfei tu re pr oc eed in g. Bec au se we

co nc lu de th at Ash an ti ’s cla im s ar e b arre d b y res jud ic at a, we affi rm

.

I. Back gr ou nd

On Ju ne 15
, 20 08
, A s h a n ti lo an ed he r car to he r so n, Je ss e Hol lo m an

. Tha t

sa m e da y , a Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l of fic er arre st ed Hol lo m an in Gol de n Vall ey fo r dr iv in g th e car whi le un de r th e in flu en ce of al co ho l. As pa rt of th e arre st , th e of fic er

se iz ed th e car. The n ex t da y , Ash an ti rece iv ed se pa rat e le tt ers fro m th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l an d an at to rn ey em pl oyed by Gol de n Vall ey no ti fy in g he r th at he r car ha d be en se iz ed in co nn ect io n wit h Hol lo m an ’s arre st an d was su bjec t to fo rfei tu re un de r Mi nn es ot a la w.

On Ju ly 21
, 20 08
, Ash an ti ch al le ng ed th e fo rfei tu re by fil in g a “ Pet it io n fo r Ju di ci al Dete rm in at io n of Fo rfei tu re an d Ret ur n of Pro pe rty” in Hen ne p in Co un ty Dis tri ct Co ur t. Ju dg e Reg in a M. Ch u of th e Hen ne pi n Co un ty Dis tri ct Co ur t iss ue d

a sc he du li ng or de r on Sep te m be r 28
, 20 08
, se tt in g th e tri al fo r Sep te m be r 14
, 20 09

. Ash an ti m ov ed fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t on Decem be r 11
, 20 08

. The Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l op po se d th e m ot io n. An at to rn ey fo r Gol de n Vall ey pr os ecu te d t h e se iz ur e
pr oc eed in gs on be ha lf of th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l as pe rm it te d u nd er Mi nn . S ta t. § 16 9A.6 3 su bd

. 1( i). Ju dg e Ch u gr an te d Ash an ti ’s su m m ary jud gm en t m ot io n on Ja nu ary 12
, 20 09
, ba se d on A s h a nt i’s “ in no cen t own er” de fen se un de r se ct io n 16 9 A

. 6 3 su bd

. 7( d)
, an d jud gm en t in Ash an ti ’s fav or was gr an te d on Ja nu ary 16
, 20 09

.

On May 19
, 20 10
, Ash an ti fil ed a pu rp or te d cl as s act io n ag ai ns t Gol de n Vall ey in fed eral co ur t. Sh e as se rte d fed eral co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s un de r th e Tak in gs an d Due
Pro ces s Cl au se s of th e Fi fth Am en dm en t an d th e Unr eas on ab le Sei zu re Cl au se of th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t. S h e a ls o as se rte d Mi nn es ot a st at e co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s un de r th e Tak in gs Cl au se of Arti cl e I, S e c t i o n 13
, th e Due Pro ces s Cl au se of Arti cl e I,

-2

-Sect io n 7, an d th e Unr eas on ab le Sei zu re Cl au se of Arti cl e I, S e c t i o n 1 0 of th e

Mi nn es ot a Co ns ti tu ti on

. Gol de n Vall ey m ov ed to di sm is s un de r Ru le 12 (b )(6 ) of th e Fed eral Ru le s of Ci vi l Pro ced ur e. The di st ric t co ur t co nv ert ed th e m ot io n to di sm is s
to a m ot io n fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t un de r Ru le 56 be cau s e t h e pa rti es “ su bm it te d le tt ers th at are no t m at te rs of pu bl ic reco rd ” in co nn ect io n wit h Gol de n Vall ey ’s

m ot io n to di sm is s. Dis t. Ct

. Ord er of Mar ch 24
, 20 11
, at 4. Sp eci fic al ly, th e di st ric t

co ur t refe rred to co pi es of th e le tt ers f r o m t h e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l an d Gol de n Vall ey ’s m

u n i ci pa l pr os ecu to r acco m pa nyin g th e Not ic e of Sei zu re an d In te nt to Fo rfei t Veh ic le

. The di st ric t cou rt gra nt ed su m m ary jud gm en t t o Go ld en Vall ey on th e ba si s th at th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l— no t Gol de n Vall ey —s ei zed Ash an ti ’s car

an d, th eref

or e, no reas on ab le juro r co ul d fin d th at Gol de n Vall ey vi ol at ed Ash an ti ’s rig ht s.

II. Ana lysis

A. Mot io n fo r Su m

m ary Ju dg m en t

W e rev ie w a gr an t o f su m m ary jud gm en t de no vo . Ry nd ers v. Will ia m s, 6 50
F.3 d 11 88
, 11 94 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (ci ti ng W ie rm an v. Cas ey ’s Gen

. St or e s , 6 38 F.3 d
98 4, 99 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 )). “ Su m m ary jud gm en t is pr op er if, aft er vi ewin g th e

ev id en ce an d dr awin g al l reas on a b l e i n fere nc es in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e

no nm ov an t, no ge nu in e is su es of m at eri al f a c t ex is t an d th e m ov an t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a m at te r of la w.” Id

. (ci ti ng Rau v. Ro be rts , 64 0 F.3 d 32 4, 32 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 )).

Ash an ti arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co u r t e r r ed in co nv ert in g Gol de n Vall ey ’s

m ot io n to di sm is s to a m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t. Ru le 12 (d ) o f th e Fed eral
Ru le s of Ci vi l P ro ced ur e req ui res th at a m ot io n to di sm is s un de r Ru le 12 (b )(6 ) be

tre at ed as a mo t i o n f

o r su m m ary jud gm en t un de r Ru le 56 if “ m at te rs ou ts id e th e pl ead in gs are pr es en te d to an d no t ex cl ud ed by th e co ur t.” Fed

. R. Ci v. P. 12 (d ).

-3

-“ Tho ug h m at te rs ou ts id e th e pl ead in g m ay no t be co ns id ered in de ci di ng a Ru le 12

m ot io n to di sm is s, do cu m en ts ne ces sa ril y em br aced by th e co m

pl ai nt are no t m at te rs

ou ts id e th e pl ead in g.” Ene rv at io ns , In c. v. Mi nn

. Mi ni ng & Mfg

. Co
., 38 0 F.3 d 10 66
, 10 69 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ) (q uo ta ti on s om it te d)

. Doc um en ts ne ces sa ril y em br aced by th e pl ead in gs in cl ud e “ do cu m en ts who se co nt en ts are al le ge d in a co m pl ai nt an d who se

au th en ti ci ty no pa rty qu es ti on s, bu t whi ch are no t ph y si cal ly at ta ch ed to th e pl ead in g.” Kus hn er v. Bev erl y Ent ers ., In c., 31 7 F.3 d 82 0, 83 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (ci ti ng In re Sy nt ex Sec. Lit ig
., 95 F.3 d 92 2, 92 6 (9 th Ci r. 19 96 )). The co nt en ts of th e Not ic e of Sei zu re an d In te nt to Fo rfei t Veh ic le an d th e le tt er by Gol de n Vall ey ’s at to rn ey th at

acco m pa ni ed th e no ti ce were al le ge d in th e co m pl ai nt an d th us ne ces sa ril y em br aced by th e co m

pl ai nt

. The co nt en ts of th e se pa rat e le tt er fro m th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l

were n ot all eg ed in th e co m pl ai nt

.

The le tt er fro m th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l co ns ti tu te d a m at te r ou ts id e th e pl ead in gs , th us th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y tre at ed th e m ot i o n a s o n e fo r su m m ary jud gm en t. A n y l a ck of fo rm al no ti ce by th e di st ric t co ur t th at it wou ld co nv ert th e

m ot io n to on e fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t was harm le ss co ns id eri ng Ash an ti ’s ad eq ua te
op po rtu ni ty to re sp on d t o Go ld en Vall ey ’s m ot io n and th e la ck of an y sh owi ng th at

an y m at eri al fact s were di sp ut ed or m is si ng fro m th e reco rd

. See Dav is v. Jo hn so n Co nt ro ls
, In c., 21 F.3 d 86 6, 86 7 (8 th Ci r. 19 94 ) (“ [A]ny la ck of fo rm al no ti ce by th e di st ric t co ur t th at it wou ld rul e o n t he m ot io n fo r su m m ary jud gm en t rat he r th an on th e m ot io n to di sm is s was ha rm le ss in vi ew of Dav i s ’s a d eq ua te op po rtu ni ty to

res po nd to th e su m

m ary jud gm en t m ot io n an d th e l a c k o f an y sh owi ng th at an y

m at eri al fact s wer e d is pu te d o r m is si ng fro m th e rec or d.” ) (ci ta ti on s o m it te d)

.

B. Res Ju di cat a

G o ld en Vall ey arg ue s th at res jud ic at a ba rs Ash an ti fro m pu rs u i n g h e r

co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s i n f ed eral co ur t be cau se Ash an ti co ul d ha ve li ti ga te d th os e cl ai m s in he r pr ev io us st at e co ur t act io n. Gol de n Vall ey m ad e th is arg um en t be fo re

-4

-th e di st ric t co ur t, whi ch di sa gr eed an d di sm is se d Ash an ti ’s cl ai m s on ot he r gr ou nd s.

Sh or tl y th erea fte r, we de ci de d Laas e v. C o u n t y o f I sa nt i, 63 8 F.3 d 85 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ), whi ch ap pl ie d res jud ic at a to a pl ai nt iff ’s co ns t it ut io na l cl ai m s ag ai ns t th e Mi nn es ot a fo rfei tu re st at ut e. “ W e m ay affi rm a jud gm en t on an y gr ou nd rai se d in th e di st ric t co ur t, an d th e pa rty t ha t p r e v a i l e d i n th e di st ric t co ur t ne ed no t fil e a cro ss

ap pe al to rai se al te rn at iv e gr ou nd s fo r affi rm an ce.” Tran sc on ti ne nt al In s. Co

. v. W .G.
Sam ue ls Co
., 37 0 F.3 d 75 5, 75 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ) (ci ti ng Jo hn so n v. Enro n Co rp ., 90 6
F.2 d 1 23 4, 1 23 8 (8 th Cir . 19 90 )).

“ The la w of th e fo ru m th at ren de red th e fir st jud gm en t co nt ro ls th e res jud ic at a

an al y si s.” Laas e, 63 8 F.3 d at 85 6 (q uo ti ng St

. Pau l Fi r e & Mar in e In s. Co

. v. Co m pa q Co m pu te r Co rp ., 53 9 F.3 d 80 9, 82 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 )). Acco rd in gl y , we ap pl y Mi nn es ot a’s res jud ic at a la w in th is cas e. Und er M i nn es ot a la w, res jud ic at a

co ns ti tu te s an ab so lu te ba r to a la te r cl ai m when :

(1 ) th e ear li er cl ai m

in vo lv ed th e sa m e se t o f fac tu al cir cu m st an ces ; (2 ) th e ear li er cl ai m

in vo lv ed th e sa m e p art ie s o r th ei r pr iv ie s; (3 ) th ere was a fi na l ju dg m en t o n t he m eri ts ; [a nd ] (4 ) th e es to pp ed pa rty ha d a fu ll an d fai r op po rtu ni ty to li ti ga te th e

m at te r.

Hau sc hi ld t v. B e c k in gh am , 68 6 N.W .2d 82 9, 84 0 (Mi nn

. 20 04 ) (ci ti ng St at e v. Jo se ph
, 63 6 N.W .2d 32 2, 32 7 (Mi nn

. 20 01 )). “ Res jud ic at a ap pl ie s eq ua ll y to cl ai m s
act ua ll y li ti ga te d a nd to cla im s t ha t co ul d hav e be en li ti ga te d in th e earl ie r act io n.”
Bro wn W i l b e r t, In c. v. Co pe la nd Bu hl & Co
., 73 2 N.W .2d 20 9, 22 0 (Mi nn

. 20 07 ) (ci ti ng Jo se ph
, 63 6 N.W .2d at 32 7)

. It is un di sp ut ed th at th e st at e co ur t act io n

res ul te d in a fin al jud gm en t on th e m eri ts , in whi ch Ash an ti pr ev ai le d an d reco ve red he r ve hi cl e. Ash an ti di sp ut es th e rem ai ni ng ele m en ts of r es jud ic at a.

-5

-1. Th e St at e Co ur t Act io n In vo lv ed th e Sam e Set of F act ua l Ci rcu m st an ces

Hol lo m an ’s arre st , th e se iz ur e of Ash an ti ’s car, an d th e n o t i c e of in te nt to fo rfei t co ns ti tu te th e op erat iv e fact ua l ci rcu m st an ces in bo th th e fo rfei tu re act io n an d Ash a n t i’s fed eral act io n. Each co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m in Ash an ti ’s fed eral co m pl ai nt rel ie s on th es e ba ck gr ou nd fact s an d al le ge s th at “ [i]t is [Go ld en Vall ey ’s] po li cy , act in g un de r Mi nn

. St at

. § 16 9A.6 3, to ta ke th e ve hi cl es of pr iv at e ci ti zen s fo r pu bl ic

us e wit ho ut du e p ro ces s o f la w.” Compl. ¶ 4 3; see als o i d. ¶¶ 35 , 39 , 47 , 51 , 55

.

I n Laas e, we he ld th at “ co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s were rip e an d co ul d ha ve be en

as se rte d in th e un de rlyin g st at e li ti ga ti on ” be cau se “ fo rfei tu re is au to m at ic up on th e de te rm in at io n of fo rfei ta bi li ty.” 62 8 F.3 d at 85 8. Thu s, th e co nc lu si on of st at e co ur t li ti ga ti o n ov er fo rfei ta bi li ty “ ad ds no th in g to th e ‘gro up of op erat iv e fact s’” gi vi ng ris e to th e co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s. Id

. at 85 7 (q uo ti ng Hau sc hi ld t, 68 6 N.W .2d at 84 0)

. W e th us reject e d t h e arg um en t th at th e ve hi cl e own er “ co ul d no t ha ve li ti ga te d hi s

c o ns ti tu ti on al ch al le ng e to fo rfei tu re un ti l th e st at e li ti ga ti on de te rm in ed fo rfei ta bi li ty.” Id.

The di st ric t co ur t de cl in ed to ap pl y res jud ic at a be cau se “ th e fact ua l pr ed ic at e of Ash an ti ’s fo rfei tu re acti on was th e fo rfei tu re it se lf, where as th e fact ua l pred ic at e of th is act io n is th e fo rfei tu re ac ti on .” D. Ct

. Ord er o f M a r c h 2 4
, 20 11
, at 12

. Ash an ti ’s co m

pl ai nt di d al le ge th at m

un ic ip al it ie s s u ch as Gol de n Vall ey m ak e

“ ci ti zen s wait in or di na te le ng th s of ti m e be fo re th ey can ev en ch al le ng e th e se iz ur e,”

an d it as se rte d as a qu es ti on of la w an d fact co m m on to th e pu rp or te d cl as s m em be rs whe th er th e “ ex te ns i v e de la y be twee n th e in it ia l se iz ur e of a ve hi cl e an d th e po st

se iz ur e h eari ng ” is an un reas on ab le sei zu re in vi ol at io n of t he Fo ur th Am en dm en t. Co m pl

. at 2 & ¶ 27

. Ash an ti ha d be gu n ex pe rie nc in g th is de la y , ho wev er, at th e ti m e sh e fil ed he r pe ti ti on fo r jud ic ia l de te rm in at io n of fo rfei tu re on Ju ly 21
, 20 08
, whi ch

was 36 da y s aft er se iz ur e of th e ve hi cl e. Co m pl

. ¶ 10

. Ash an ti al so ha d co ns tru ct iv e

no ti ce th at th e Mi nn es ot a jud i c i a l pr oc es s in he ren tl y wou ld pr ol on g th e st at e’s

-6

-cu st od y of th e ve hi cl e. The Mi nn es ot a fo rfei tu re st at ut e ex pr es sl y pr ov id es th at th e

Mi nn es ot a Ru le s of Ci vi l Pro ced ur e go ve rn th e fo rfei tu re pr oc eed in g in st at e co ur t. Mi nn . S ta t. § 1 69 A.63 , su bd . 9(a ). The s ta tu te als o e xp res sl y pro vi de s t ha t ju di ci al de te rm in at io n of fo rf

ei tur e “ m ust no t pr eced e ad

jud ic at io n in th e cri m in al pr os ecu ti on of th e de si gn at ed of

fen se wit ho ut th e co ns en t of th e pr os ecu ti ng au th or it y .” Mi nn

. 2
St at

. § 16 9A.6 3, su bd

. 9( d)

. The refo re, th e fo rfei tu re st a t u t e p u t Ash an ti on

co ns tru ct iv e no ti ce of th e po te nt ia ll y le ng th y pr oc es s fo r jud ic ia l d e t e r m in at io n of fo rfei tu re in Mi nne sot a, an d A sha nti co ul d ha ve as se rte d he r co ns ti tu ti on al ch al le ng es
to th is pr oc es s ba se d on th e fact s th at ha d o c c u r r e d b y th e ou ts et of he r st at e co ur t
act io n. W e th us co nc lu de th at th e Mi nn es ot a fo rfei tu re act io n in vo lv ed th e sa m e se t

3
of fact ua l ci rcu m st an ces as As ha nt i’s fe de ral act io n.

2. Th e St at e Co ur t Act io n In vo lv ed th e Sam e Par ti es or t he ir P riv ie s

To de te rm in e pr iv it y un de r Mi nn es ot a la w, co ur ts “ m us t care fu ll y ex am in e th e ci rcu m st an ce of each cas e.” Mar go -Kraft Dis tri bs
., In c. v. Mi nn eap ol is Gas Co
., 20 0
N.W .2d 45
, 47 (Mi nn

. 19 72 ). “ The re is no pr ev ai li ng de fin it io n of pr iv it y whi ch can be au to m at ic a ll y ap pl ie d.” Id . ( ci ti ng McM en om y v. Ry de n, 14 8 N.W .2d 80 4, 80 7

The co m pl ai nt do es no t al le ge th at Ash an ti at te m pt ed to ex pe di te th e jud ic ia l 2
pr oc es s by fo rm al ly req ue st in g t h e p r o s ecu ti ng au th or it y ’s co ns en t. Alt ho ug h Ash an ti ’s br ie f on ap pe al st at e s th at “ Gol de n Vall ey di d no t ag ree to an earl y di sp os it io n of th e cas e,” Ash an ti Br. at 4, Ash an ti do es no t st at e th at sh e ev er req ue st ed an earl y di sp os it io n. Thi s fai lu re to req ue st ex pe di te d ad jud ic at io n fu rth er de m on st rat es Ash an ti ’s co ns tru ct iv e no ti ce of a po te nt ia ll y le ng th y jud ic ia l pr oc es s.

Ash an ti al so co ul d ha ve am en de d he r pl ead in g to ad d he r co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s 3

as th e act io n pr oc eed ed in st at e co ur t. Ru le 15 .01 of th e Mi nn es ot a Ru le s of Ci vi l Pro ced ur e al lo ws a pa rty to a men d a p l e ad in g on ce as a m at te r of co ur se be fo re a
res po ns iv e pl ead in g is se rv ed
, if a res po ns iv e pl ead in g is pe rm it te d. Alt ho ug h “ [n ]o

res po ns iv e pl ead in g is req ui red of th e pr os ecu ti ng au th or it y ,” se ct io n 16 9A.6 3, su bd

. 8( d)
, a res po ns iv e pl ead in g is no t pr o h i b i te d. Gol de n Vall ey , th e pr os ecu ti ng
au th or it y , di d n ot fil e a res po ns iv e p le ad in g i n t he st at e co ur t ac ti on

.
-7

-(Mi nn

. 19 67 )). Pri vi ty in cl ud es “ th os e who co nt ro l an act io n al th ou gh no t pa rti es to

it ; th os e who se in te res ts are rep res en te d by a pa rty to th e act io n; [an d] su cces so rs in in te res t to th os e ha vi ng de riv at iv e cl ai m s.” Id

. at 47 -4 8 (q uo ti ng Res ta te m en t (Fi rs t) of Ju dg m en ts § 83
, cm t. a (1 94 2) (in te rn al qu ot at io ns om it te d) ). In Laas e, we fo un d th at “ [t]he pa rti es in [th e fed eral ] la wsu it an d in th e fo rm er st a te pr oc eed in gs are pl ai nl y th e sa m e,” ev en th ou gh th e cap ti on ed de fen da nt in th e st at e co ur t fo rfei tu re
pr oc eed in gs was th e fed eral pl ai nt iff ’s 20 07 Ch ev ro le t Tah oe

. 63 8 F.3 d at 85 5, 85 7 (ci ti ng Laas e v . 20 07 Ch ev ro le t Tah oe , No. CV-0 6- 38 3 (M in n. Di st . Ct. 2 00 7) ).

Si mi la r to th e si tu at io n in Laas e, in th is cas e Gol de n Vall ey se rv ed as th e
pr os ecu ti ng au th or it y an d co nt ro ll ed th e fo rfei tu re act io n, ev en th ou gh th e cap ti on ed de fen da nt in th e fo rfei tu re act io n was Ash an ti ’s car. Gol de n Vall ey al so rep res en te d
th e la w en fo rcem en t in te res ts of th e Mi nn es ot a St at e Pat ro l in th e act io n. Gol de n Vall ey li ti ga te d ag ai ns t Ash an ti ’s pe ti ti on fo r jud ic ia l de te rm in at io n, an d Gol de n Vall ey is li ti ga ti ng ag ai ns t Ash an ti ’s fed eral act io n. Und er th es e ci rcu m st an ces , th e
st at e co ur t ac ti on in vo lv ed th e sa m e p art ie s o r th ei r pr iv ie s u nd er Mi nn es ot a la w.

3. As ha nt i Had a Fu ll an d F ai r Opp or tu ni ty to Li ti ga te he r Co ns ti tu ti on al Cla im s

A s h an ti ha d a fu ll an d fai r op po rtu ni ty to li ti ga te he r co ns ti tu ti on al c l a i ms du rin g th e st at e co ur t act io n. “ Mi nn es ot a co ur t s r o u t i n el y he ar co ns ti tu ti on al ch al le ng es in for fei tu re p ro ceed in gs .” Laas e, 63 8 F .3d at 8 58 (ci ti ng Mi ll er v . One
20 01 Po nt ia c Azte k, 66 9 N.W .2d 89 3 (Mi nn

. 20 03 )); Bo rg qu is t v. 20 02 Fo rd F3 50
, No. A10- 73 3, 20 10 W L 34 67 13 (Mi nn

. Ct

. App

. 20 10 ) (u np ub li sh ed ); Cit y of New
B r i g ht on v. 20 00 Fo rd Exc ur si on , 62 2 N.W .2d 36 4 (Mi nn

. Ct

. App

. 20 01 ) ) ; s e e al so Hed lu nd v. 20 08 Ch ev ro le t, No. 27 -CV-0 8- 99 67 (Mi nn

. Dis t. Ct

. 20 09 ) (co ns id eri ng du e pr oc es s cl ai m , du rin g fo rfei tu re pr oc e e d i n g , ba se d on ta ki ng of

ve hi cl e wit ho ut pr io r ad jud ic at io n or pr om

pt po st -s ei z ur e he ari ng ). Not hi ng
pr ev en te d Ash an ti fro m rai si ng he r co ns ti tu ti on al cl ai m s at th e ti m e of th e st at e co ur t

a c t i o n

. “ Und er res jud ic at a, a pa rty is ‘requ ire d to as se rt al l al te rn at iv e th eo rie s of

-8

-reco ve ry in th e in it ia l act io n.’” Hau sc hi ld t, 6 8 6 N

. W. 2d at 84 0 (q uo ti ng Dor so

Trai le r Sal es , In c. v. Am

. Bo dy & Trai le r, In c., 48 2 N.W .2d 77 1, 77 4 (Mi nn

. 19 92 )).
Bu t Ash an ti di d no t. Co ns eq ue nt ly, res jud ic at a ba rs Ash an ti ’s cl ai m s in t h i s cas e

“ ari si ng fro m th e or ig in al ci rcu m st an ces ” bu t “ un de r ne w le ga l th eo rie s.” Id

. at 83 7 (ci ta ti on s o m it te d)

.

B e cau se th e do ct rin e of res jud ic at a “ pr om ot es im po rta nt in te res ts in fin a l i t y

an d t he av oi da nc e o f pi ecemeal l it ig at io n,” Laas e, 63 8 F .3d at 8 59 (ci ti ng Ro ach v. Team st ers Loc al Uni on No. 68 8, 59 5 F.2 d 44 6, 44 9 (8 th Ci r. 1 97 9) ), eq ui ty an d jus ti ce are no t di ss erv ed by pr ecl ud in g th e fu rth er li ti ga ti on of cl ai m s th at Ash an ti ha d

a fu ll an d fai r op po rtu ni ty to as se rt in st at e co ur t. See id

. Acco rd in gl y , we co nc lu de
, ba se d o n M in ne so ta ’s pri nc ip le s o f res jud ic at a, th at th e cl ai m s t ha t Ash an ti ass ert s in th is li ti ga ti on are ba rred by th e earl ie r st at e co ur t jud gm en t. See id

. (ci ti ng Beu tz v. A.O. Sm it h Har ve st or e Pro ds ., Inc ., 43 1 N.W.2d 5 28 , 53 1 (M in n. 1 98 8) ).

III.

The jud gm en t i s af

fir m ed

.

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